Over a hundred people gathered to hear the remarkable story of the rejuvenation of New York’s iconic Times Square, as told by Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance (TSA). Tompkins (pictured below) was joined on stage by local choreographer and curator Jay Pather, who described the role that public art can play in creating inclusive public space. Anton Groenewald then responded on behalf of the City of Cape Town in his capacity as the executive director for tourism, events and marketing.
“How can we ensure that Capetonians see our public spaces as places that they own, where they can interact, exchange and find each other in a city struggling to find its own social cohesion,” asked Bulelwa Makalima-Ngewana, MD of the Cape Town Partnership, in her opening address. “Today’s forum plays a valuable role in creating space for inspired debate and discussion as we strive to maintain the legacy of the World Cup and our public space in a way that enhances the life of our citizens.”
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Read the rest of the Cape Town Partnership report from the event here, and find Tompkin’s full presentation here.